Cervical brace

ABSTRACT

A cervical brace includes a chest plate, a pair of shoulder bars pivotally mounted on the chest plate and resting on a patient&#39;&#39;s shoulders, and a pair of straps extending from the ends of the shoulder bars across the patient&#39;&#39;s back and secured to the chest plate to hold it firmly against the patient&#39;&#39;s sternum. A chin support is held under the patient&#39;&#39;s chin by an elongated chin support bar having vertically spaced apart holes, one of the holes being fitted over a pin on the chest plate. A hinged plate on the chest plate pivots over the chin support bar to hold it on the pin. The plate may be swung aside to remove the chin support from the chest plate and later replace it at the proper elevation under the patient&#39;&#39;s chin without moving the patient&#39;&#39;s head. An occipital support is held under the patient&#39;&#39;s occiput by an occipital support bar which extends over the patient&#39;&#39;s shoulders and is secured to the chest plate. An adjustable stop on each side of the occipital support bar fits into a respective slot on the chest plate, each stop being held in its slot by a respective hinged plate on the chest plate. When the hinged plates are swung aside the occipital support may be applied to the patient&#39;&#39;s occiput without substantial movement of the patient&#39;&#39;s head, neck, or upper torso.

United States Patent 1191 Nitschke 11 3,724,452 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [54]CERVICAL BRACE [75] Inventor: Robert 0. Nitschke, Rochester, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Ted J. Green, Costa Mesa, Calif.

[22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1971 [21] 'Appl. No.: 120,871

52 us. c1. ..12s/7s, l28/DIG. 23 51 Int. Cl. ..A61h 1/02 581 Field 111Search ..l28/75, s7, DIG. 23

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,692,595 10/1954 Blair, Jr...l28/87 B 2,735,424 2/1956 Benjamin.... .....128/87 B 2,820,455 1/1958Hall ..128/87 B 2,904,040 9/1959 Hale ..128/87 B 2,223,276 11/1940 Ward.....128/87 B 3,224,439 12/1965 Blair, Jr ..128/75 1,397,499 11/1921Brennan ..128/D1G. 23 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Orthopaedic Appliance Atlas,Vol. 1, 1952 page 224, 226, Fig. 278 A,B

Primary Examiner-William E. Kamm Assistant Examiner-J. YaskoAttorney-Christie, Parker & Hale [57] ABSTRACT A cervical brace includesa chest plate, a pair of shoulder bars pivotally mounted on the chestplate and resting on a patients shoulders, and a pair of strapsextending from the ends of the shoulder bars across the patients backand secured to the chest plate to hold it firmly against the patient'ssternum. A

chin support is held under the patients chin by an elongated chinsupport bar having vertically spaced apart holes, one of the holes beingfitted over a pin on the chest plate. A hinged plate on the chest platepivots over the chin support bar to hold it on the pin. The plate may beswung aside to remove the chin support from the chest plate and laterreplace it at the proper elevation under the patients chin withoutmoving the patient's head. An occipital support is held under thepatients occiput by an occipital support bar which extends over thepatients shoulders and is secured to the chest plate. An adjustable stopon each side of the occipital support bar fits into a respective slot onthe chest plate, each stop being held in its slot by a respective hingedplate on the chest plate. When the hinged plates are swung aside theoccipital support may be applied to the patients occiput withoutsubstantial movement of the patients head, neck, or upper torso.

15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to an improved cervical brace.

A person having a cervical injury should not be moved until his head andneck are immobilized. When a patient is under traction on a strikerframe, it is often necessary to immobilize his head, neck, and sternumwithout moving these parts of the patients body. Prior art cervicalbraces for immobilizing the head and neck are difficult to apply to apatient in a prone position without moving his head, neck or uppertorso.

Prior art cervical braces generally include a support resting under thepatients chin and a separate support under the occiput (back part of thehead or skull). The chin support generally is releasably secured to achest plate resting against the patients sternum, and the occipitalsupport is typically secured to a separate plate held against thepatients back. When a patient lying on his back is fitted with a priorart cervical brace, his head and neck must be moved substantially toprovide sufficient room to position the back plate and then connect theoccipital support to the back plate. Moreover, the occipital support ofthe prior art cervical braces generally is secured to the back plate bythreaded fasteners which are difficult and time-consuming to apply andtherefore require attendants to hold the patients head and neck in anelevated position for a substantial length of time.

In the prior art cervical braces, means for fastening the chin supportto the chest plate generally include screw-threaded fasteners orcomplicated attachments. Thus, the chin support may not be quickly andeasily applied or removed. Some prior art chin supports are designedsuch that the patients head must be moved back to fasten or removethechin support. Other prior art chin supports must be fitted to thepatient to determine the proper position of the support each time it isreplaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a cervical brace whichmay be applied to a patient in a prone position without substantialmovement of his head, neck, or upper torso.

Briefly, the cervical brace includes a chest plate, and a pair ofshoulder bars secured to the chest plate and resting on the shoulders ofa patient to hold the chest plate against the patients sternum. Chinsupport means secured to the chest plate hold the patients chin in afixed position. An occipital plate is supported under the patientsocciput by an occipital support bar extending over the patientsshoulders and secured to the chest plate.

In use, the cervical brace may be applied to a patient lying on his backby properly positioning the chest plate and chin support in front of thepatient, placing the occipital support plate under the patients occiput,and securing the occipital support bar to the chest plate.

In a preferred form of the invention, the occipital support bar hasadjustable stops which fit into cooperating slots in the front of thechest plate for adjusting the elevation of the occipital plate.

Preferably, the chin support includes a chin plate resting under thepatients chin, and a downwardly extending chin support bar havingvertically spaced apart holes extending through it. A certain one of theholes is fitted over a pin on the chest plate to hold the chin plate ata given elevation under the patients chin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other aspects of theinvention will be more fully understood by referring to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the front of a cervical brace;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an occiptal sup- P FIG. 3 is aperspective view showing a chin support;

FIG. 4 is an elevation taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 7 showing means forfastening shoulder bars to the cervical brace;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the cervical brace worn by apatient;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the rear of the cervical brace whenworn by the patient; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the cervical brace applied to apatient lying in a prone position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings, a cervical brace 10 includes a substantially Y-shaped chestplate 12, the central portion of which is adapted to rest against apatients sternum. The chest plate has upwardly and outwardly extendingright and left upright portions 14 which are positioned immediatelybelow the patients clavicle when the chest plate is worn. The centralportion of the chest plate extends downwardly the entire length of thepatients sternum and terminates in an enlarged lower portion 16 whichrests in the area of the patients midriff. The reverse side of the chestplate is covered'with padding, preferably a sheet 17 of plastic foammaterial.

A pair of upwardly extending, curved shoulder bars 18 are pivotallysecured to right and left uprights 14 of the chest plate. Each shoulderbar 18 has a rounded lower portion 20 (shown best in FIG. 4) with anopening 22 extending through it to receive a threaded fastener 24 whichscrews into a cooperating opening (not shown) in each upright 14. Eachfastener 24 extends through a respective lock nut (not shown) disposedbetween the reverse side of upright 14 and the front of rounded portion20 of the shoulder bar. Each lock nut serves as a spacer between therounded portion of the shoulder bar and the chest plate and locks theshoulder bar firmly in a fixed position relative to the chest plate whenfastener 24 is tightened.

The upper portion of each shoulder bar 18 is curved to extend over andrest on each shoulder of a patient. As shown best in FIG. 4, the reverseside of each shoulder bar is covered with padding, preferably a sheet 26of plastic foam material. The padding covering uprights 14 is closelyspaced from the rounded portions of the shoulder bars so the reversesides of the shoulder bars and the chest plate provide a continuous softcushion resting against the patient.

Chest plate 12 and shoulder bars 18 are preferably made of a strong,lightweight, and bendable material such as aluminum. Thus, the chestplate and shoulder bars may be curved into a shape which conforms to thepatients body. The chest plate and shoulder bars are preferably coveredwith a thin sheet of baked-on vinyl plastic to avoid rough or sharpedges and to permit the device to be easily washable. The paddingcovering the reverse sides of chest plate 12 and shoulder bars 18preferably is made of a vinyl plastic foam with a vinyl coating toprovide a smooth finish which is comfortable and easily washable.

A chin support 28 includes an upwardly opening, substantially U-shapedchin plate 30 which is preferably made of aluminum to permit it to bebent to conform to the shape of the patients chin. A downwardlyextending elongated chin support bar 32 is secured to the bottom of chinplate 30 by a pair of screws (not shown). The lower portion of the chinsupport bar has a column of vertically spaced-apart holes 33 extendingthrough it.

The chin support bar is preferably a relatively thin bar made of alightweight material such as aluminum. The upwardly opening uppersurface of chin plate 30 is covered by a sheet 34 of vinyl foammaterial. The aluminum chin plate and the foam padding are both coveredby a vinyl coating.

An occipital support 36 includes a substantially U- shaped occipitalplate 38 shaped to fit under the patients occiput. The inner side ofplate 38 is covered by padding, preferably a sheet 40 of plastic foammaterial such as vinyl foam. A vinyl plastic coating preferably coversthe outer surface of occipital plate 38 and foam padding 40.

A downwardly opening U-shaped occipital support bar 42 has an uppertransverse cross member 44 (shown best in FIG. 6) disposed against thereverse side of occipital plate 38. The occipital plate is secured tothe cross member by fasteners (not shown) extending through it into aU-shaped bracket 46 (shown best in FIG. 6) fitted over cross member 44.Occipital support bar 42 preferably is an aluminum rod which may be bentinto a variety of shapes and which holds its given shape.

The occipital support bar preferably is circular in transversecross-section, with each leg of the support bar carrying a respectiveannular stop 48. Each leg of the support bar extends through the openingin its respective stop 48, and each stop is releasably secured to itsrespective leg by a screw-threaded fastener 50, preferably an Allen headscrew. Fastener 50 may be loosened to permit stop 48 to slide up anddown relative to the leg portion of the occipital support bar, as shownin phantom lines in FIG. 2. When the proper elevation of each stop isdetermined, the fastener 50 is tightened to keep the stop in a fixedposition relative to the occipital support bar.

The use of the cervical brace is best understood by referring to FIGS.4, 5, and 6. Chest plate 12 is initially fitted to the patients chest,with its shape being modified by bending it horizontally to follow thecontour of the patients chest and vertically to conform to the patientssternum. If substantial modification of the chest plate is necessary,shoulder bars 18 may be completely removed from the chest platebyremoving fasteners 24.

Shoulder bars 18 are then shaped to conform to the contour of thepatients shoulders. The shoulder bars may be curved toward or away fromchest plate 12, and the angle of curvature of the shoulder bars may bemodified to conform to the depth of the patients shoulders.

The shoulder bars also may be swung toward and away from each otherabout their pivots on fasteners 24 to adjust the angle between eachshoulder bar and the chest plate. Fasteners 24 are loosened slightly topermit the shoulder bars to be moved relative to the chest plate.Initially, the shoulder bars are swung relatively far apart from eachother to permit the chest plate and shoulder bars to be moved downwardlyover the head of the patient. The shoulder bars can then be swung towardeach other until they are in a proper position resting comfortably onthe patients shoulders. Fasteners 24 may then be tightened to lock theshoulder bars in their desired position.

A pair of elongated straps 52 are secured to the free ends of shoulderbars 18 by threaded fasteners 54. The straps are preferably made of arugged, lightweight, and washable material such as nylon. Each strap 52carries a respective buckle 56 near its end. A pair of laterally spacedapart buckle-receiving clips 58 are secured to the lower front portionof chest plate 12. The clips are held on the chest plate by an elongatedstrip 60 of vinyl material threaded through an opening in each clip andfolded back on itself, with the folded over-portion being secured to thechest plate by a fastener 62.

In use, the chest plate is firmly secured to the patients sternum bycrossing straps 52 behind the patients back and fastening buckles 56 torespective clips 58. Buckles 56 are slidable relative to the straps sothey may be positioned on each strap at points which hold at the chestplate firmly against the patients chest'when fastened to clips 58. Thus,the chest plate provides a firm support for the patients sternum, andmay be applied with sufficient tightness to immobilize the sternum ifthe type of injury sustained necessitates such means of support.

An elongated chin support block 64 is secured to the upper centralportion of the front of chest plate 12. Block 64, which is preferablymade of injection molded plastic, has an elongated vertically extendingchannel 66 on its longitudinal center line, and an outwardly extendingcylindrical mounting pin 68 disposed centrally within channel 66. Arelatively thin and flat locking plate 70 is hinged to one side of block64 adjacent to channel 66 by a threaded fastener 72.

In use, chin support 28 is applied to the patient by fitting chin pad 34under the patients chin at the correct elevation and slipping one of theholes 33 of chin support bar 32 over mounting pin 68. Locking plate 70swings aside to permit chin support bar 32 to fit into channel 66 ofmounting block 64. After the chin support bar is positioned over pin 66,locking plate 70 is swung over the front of the chin support bar and themounting pin to maintain the pin support bar and the mounting pin tomaintain the pin support in a fixed position under the patients chin. Afastener 74 on the side of mounting block 64 opposite locking plate 70has its head portion spaced slightly from the outer surface of themounting block to permit a notched portion 76 of plate 70 to make atight friction fit between the head and the block. Thus, locking plate70 maintains a fixed position covering the lower portion of the chinsupport bar and thereby holds the chin support rigidly in place underthe patients chin.

If it is desired to free the patients chin to permit him to eat, shave,or the like, the chin support may be quickly removed from the chestplate by swinging locking plate 70 to the position shown in FIG. 1 so asto uncover chin support bar 32 and permit the bar to be slipped offmounting pin 68. .The particular one of holes 33 which positions thechin plate properly under the patients chin may be etched or otherwisemarked so the chin support later may be replaced in the proper position.Thus, the chin plate may be quickly and easily secured to the chestplate, and removed therefrom, without substantial movement from thepatients head or neck.

A pair of occipital support blocks 78 are secured to right and leftuprights 14 of chest plate 12. Support blocks 78 preferably are made ofinjection molded plastic material formed to provide an elongatedvertically extending channel 80 in the center of the block. The innerportion of each mounting block 78 has an outwardly opening slottedportion 82 at its top. Each mounting block 82 has a relatively thin andflat locking plate 84 pivotally secured adjacent to its outer edge by arespective fastener 86. In use, locking plates 84 operate in a manneridentical to locking plate 70. Both locking plates 84 have slottedportions 88 which make a friction fit under a fastener 90 on theopposite side of the block when each plate slides over its channel 80.

Occipital support 36 is applied to the patient by loosening fasteners 50of stops 48, moving the stops to the proper position on occipitalsupport bar 42, and tightening the fasteners so the stops maintain afixed position on the bars. The occipital support bars 42 are then bentinto a configuration which permits them to extend over the patientsshoulders (as shown best in FIG. 6) to the front of the chest plate whenoccipital plate 38 is held against the patients occiput. If the patientis lying on his back, as shown in FIG. 7 the patients neck is straddledby support bars 42, either from the front or side, the occipital supportis turned to position the occipital plate in the area under the back ofthe patients neck, and the occipital plate is then moved upward slightlyand placed under the patients occiput. Thus, the patients head need notbe lifted to permit the occipital plate to be properly positioned underhis occiput. The occipital support bars 42 extend over his shoulders tothe front of the chest plate. Stops 48 are inserted in slotted portions32 of mounting blocks 78 and the end portions of occipital support bar42 are positioned in channel 80 of mounting block 78. Locking plates 84are then swung over channel 80 and the end portions of the occipitalsupport bar and locked under fastener 90 to hold the occipital supportin a fixed position under the patients occiput.

Thus, the cervical brace of this invention permits the patients head,neck, and sternum to be immobilized without substantial movement of hishead, neck, or upper torso. This is a substantial advantage if thepatient has sustained severe heador neck injuries, or if he is undertraction on a striker type frame and thereby requires as little movementof his head, neck, or upper torso as possible. i

I claim:

. 1. A cervical brace comprising a chest plate; support means secured tothe chest plate and adapted to rest on the shoulders of a patient tohold the chest plate against the sternum of the patient; chin supportmeans secured to the chest plate for holding the chin of the patient ina fixed position; and occipital support means including an occipitalplate adapted to fit under the occiput of the patient, an elongatedoccipital support bar having one end rigidly secured to the occipitalsupport plate and being adapted to extend over at least one shoulder ofthe patient to the chest plate independently of the chin support means,and means securing the other end of the occipital support bar to thechest plate to hold the occipital plate in a fixed position against theocciput of the patient.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the chin support meansincludes a chin plate, a chin support bar extending downwardly from thechin support plate, the chin support bar having vertically spaced-apartholes extending through it, a pin on the front of the chest plate forextending through a certain one of the holes on the chin support bar toposition the chin support plate at a given elevation relative to thepatients chin, and fastening means on the chest plate for holding thechin support bar on the pin to maintain the chin support plate in afixed position relative to the patients chin.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the fastening means comprisesan elongated channel in the front of the chest plate for receiving thechin support bar, and a locking plate hinged to the front of the chestplate to slide over the portion of the chin support bar in the channelto maintain the chin support bar fixed in the channel.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the occipital support meansincludes a pair of laterally spaced apart legs adapted to extend overthe shoulders of the patient; and including fastening means on each sideof the chest plate releasably securing the legs to the chest plate.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each leg has an adjustablestop secured it, and wherein each fastening means comprises a slot inthe chest plate for receiving a respective stop, an elongated channel inthe front of the chest plate adjacent the notch for receiving arespective leg, and a locking plate pivotally secured to the front ofthe chest plate to slide over the portion of the leg in each channel tomaintain the nearby stop fixed in its respective slot.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the occipital support barincludes a pair of laterally spacedapart legs adapted to extend over theshoulders of the patient; and including second fastening means on eachside of the chest plate releasably securing the legs to the chest plate.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the fastening means for thechin support bar comprises an elongated channel in front of the chestplate for receiving the chin support bar, and a first locking platehinged to the front of the chest plate to slide over the portion of thechin support bar in the channel to maintain the chin support bar fixedin the channel; wherein the leg of each occipital support bar has anadjustable stop secured thereto; and wherein each second fastening meanscomprises a slot in the chest plate for receiving a respective stop, anelongated channel in front of the chest plate adjacent the slot forreceiving a respective leg, and a second locking plate hinged to thechest plate to slide over the portion of the leg in each channel tomaintain the nearby stop fixed in its respective slot.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the chest plate is made of abendable material for conforming to the contour of the patients chest.

9. A cervical brace comprising a substantially rigid chest plate; a pairof substantially rigid U-shaped shoulder bars adapted to rest on theshoulders of a patient; rigid fastening means securing the shoulder barsto the chest plate to hold the chest plate in a fixed position againstthe sternum of the patient when the shoulder bars rest on the shouldersof the patient; substantially rigid chin support means; means rigidlysecuring the chin support means to the chest plate for holding the chinof the patient in a fixed position; an occipital support adapted to fitunder the occipit of the patient; an elongated occipital support barhaving one end rigidly secured to the occipital support and beingadapted to extend over at least one shoulder of the patient to the chestplate independently of the chin support means; and means securing theother end of the occipital support bar to the chest plate to hold theoccipital support in a fixed position against the occipit of thepatient.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the fastening meanspivotally secure the shoulder bars to the chest plate. I

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the occipital support meansincludes a pair of laterally spaced apart legs adapted to extend overthe shoulders of the patient, and including fastening means on each sideof the chest plate releasably securing the legs to the chest plate.

12. A cervical brace comprising a chest plate; a pair of shoulder barssecured to the chest plate and adapted to rest on the shoulders of apatient to hold the chest plate against the sternum of the patient; chinsupport means secured to the chest plate for holding the chin of thepatient in a fixed position; and occipital support means including anoccipital plate adapted to fit under the occiput of the patient, a pairof laterally spaced apart legs rigidly securedto the occipital plate andadapted to extend over the shoulders of the patient to free endsdisposed adjacent to the chest plate, and means releasably securing thefree ends of thelegs to cooperating fastening means on each side of thechest plate to hold the occipital plate in a fixed position against theocciput of the patient.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the chin support meansincludes a chin plate, a chin support bar extending downwardly from thechin support plate, the chin support bar having vertically spaced apartholes extending through it, a pin on the front of the chest plate forextending through a certain one of the holes on the chin support bar toposition the chin support plate at a given elevation relative to thepatients chin, and fastening means on the chest plate for holding thechin support bar on the pin to maintain the chin support plate in afixed position relative to the patients chin.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each leg has an adjustablestop secured to it; and wherein each fastening means comprises a slot inthe chest plate for receiving a respective stop, an elongated channel inthe front of the chest plate adjacent the notch for receiving arespective leg, and a separate locking plate pivotally secured to thefront of the chest plate to slide over the portion of the leg in eachchannel to maintain the nearby stop fixed in its respective slot.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the shoulder bars aresubstantially rigid; and including means rigidly securing the shoulderbars to the chest plate to hold the chest plate in a fixed positionagainst the sternum of the patient, means for adjusting the point ofattachment between the chin support means and the chest plate toposition the chin support plate at a given elevation relative to thepatients chin, and means for adjusting the point of attachment betweenthe occipital support legs and the chest plate to adjust the position ofthe occipital plate under the occipit of the patient.

P0405" v UNITED STA'IES PA'lENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 724,452 Dated April 3, 1973 Inventor(s) ROBERT O.- NITSCHKE It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[73] Assigneer reads Ted J. Green", should read -fI"ed J. Greene-- Col.4, lines 57-58, delete "bar and the mounting pin to maintain the pinsupport" which is a duplication of lines 56-57 (partial) Col. 6, line41, reads "secured it,", should read (Claim 5) a -secured to it,--'

Signed and sealed this 28th day of August 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner of Patents

1. A cervical brace comprising a chest plate; support means secured tothe chest plate and adapted to rest on the shoulders of a patient tohold the chest plate against the sternum of the patient; chin supportmeans secured to the chest plate for holding the chin of the patient ina fixed position; and occipital support means including an occipitalplate adapted to fit under the occiput of the patient, an elongatedoccipital support bar having one end rigidly secured to the occipitalsupport plate and being adapted to extend over at least one shoulder ofthe patient to the chest plate independently of the chin support means,and means securing the other end of the occipital support bar to thechest plate to hold the occipital plate in a fixed position against theocciput of the patient.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein thechin support means includes a chin plate, a chin support bar extendingdownwardly from the chin support plate, the chin support bar havingvertically spaced-apart holes extending through it, a pin on the frontof the chest plate for extending through a certain one of the holes onthe chin support bar to position the chin support plate at a givenelevation relative to the patient''s chin, and fastening means on thechest plate for holding the chin support bar on the pin to maintain thechin support plate in a fixed position relative to the patient''s chin.3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the fastening means comprisesan elongated channel in the front of the chest plate for receiving thechin support bar, and a locking plate hinged To the front of the chestplate to slide over the portion of the chin support bar in the channelto maintain the chin support bar fixed in the channel.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the occipital support means includes a pairof laterally spaced apart legs adapted to extend over the shoulders ofthe patient; and including fastening means on each side of the chestplate releasably securing the legs to the chest plate.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 4 wherein each leg has an adjustable stop secured it,and wherein each fastening means comprises a slot in the chest plate forreceiving a respective stop, an elongated channel in the front of thechest plate adjacent the notch for receiving a respective leg, and alocking plate pivotally secured to the front of the chest plate to slideover the portion of the leg in each channel to maintain the nearby stopfixed in its respective slot.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 2 whereinthe occipital support bar includes a pair of laterally spaced-apart legsadapted to extend over the shoulders of the patient; and includingsecond fastening means on each side of the chest plate releasablysecuring the legs to the chest plate.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6wherein the fastening means for the chin support bar comprises anelongated channel in front of the chest plate for receiving the chinsupport bar, and a first locking plate hinged to the front of the chestplate to slide over the portion of the chin support bar in the channelto maintain the chin support bar fixed in the channel; wherein the legof each occipital support bar has an adjustable stop secured thereto;and wherein each second fastening means comprises a slot in the chestplate for receiving a respective stop, an elongated channel in front ofthe chest plate adjacent the slot for receiving a respective leg, and asecond locking plate hinged to the chest plate to slide over the portionof the leg in each channel to maintain the nearby stop fixed in itsrespective slot.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the chestplate is made of a bendable material for conforming to the contour ofthe patient''s chest.
 9. A cervical brace comprising a substantiallyrigid chest plate; a pair of substantially rigid U-shaped shoulder barsadapted to rest on the shoulders of a patient; rigid fastening meanssecuring the shoulder bars to the chest plate to hold the chest plate ina fixed position against the sternum of the patient when the shoulderbars rest on the shoulders of the patient; substantially rigid chinsupport means; means rigidly securing the chin support means to thechest plate for holding the chin of the patient in a fixed position; anoccipital support adapted to fit under the occipit of the patient; anelongated occipital support bar having one end rigidly secured to theoccipital support and being adapted to extend over at least one shoulderof the patient to the chest plate independently of the chin supportmeans; and means securing the other end of the occipital support bar tothe chest plate to hold the occipital support in a fixed positionagainst the occipit of the patient.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9in which the fastening means pivotally secure the shoulder bars to thechest plate.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the occipitalsupport means includes a pair of laterally spaced apart legs adapted toextend over the shoulders of the patient, and including fastening meanson each side of the chest plate releasably securing the legs to thechest plate.
 12. A cervical brace comprising a chest plate; a pair ofshoulder bars secured to the chest plate and adapted to rest on theshoulders of a patient to hold the chest plate against the sternum ofthe patient; chin support means secured to the chest plate for holdingthe chin of the patient in a fixed position; and occipital support meansincluding an occipital plate adapted to fit under the occiput of thepatient, a pair of laterally spaced apart legs Rigidly secured to theoccipital plate and adapted to extend over the shoulders of the patientto free ends disposed adjacent to the chest plate, and means releasablysecuring the free ends of the legs to cooperating fastening means oneach side of the chest plate to hold the occipital plate in a fixedposition against the occiput of the patient.
 13. Apparatus according toclaim 12 wherein the chin support means includes a chin plate, a chinsupport bar extending downwardly from the chin support plate, the chinsupport bar having vertically spaced apart holes extending through it, apin on the front of the chest plate for extending through a certain oneof the holes on the chin support bar to position the chin support plateat a given elevation relative to the patient''s chin, and fasteningmeans on the chest plate for holding the chin support bar on the pin tomaintain the chin support plate in a fixed position relative to thepatient''s chin.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each leghas an adjustable stop secured to it; and wherein each fastening meanscomprises a slot in the chest plate for receiving a respective stop, anelongated channel in the front of the chest plate adjacent the notch forreceiving a respective leg, and a separate locking plate pivotallysecured to the front of the chest plate to slide over the portion of theleg in each channel to maintain the nearby stop fixed in its respectiveslot.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the shoulder bars aresubstantially rigid; and including means rigidly securing the shoulderbars to the chest plate to hold the chest plate in a fixed positionagainst the sternum of the patient, means for adjusting the point ofattachment between the chin support means and the chest plate toposition the chin support plate at a given elevation relative to thepatient''s chin, and means for adjusting the point of attachment betweenthe occipital support legs and the chest plate to adjust the position ofthe occipital plate under the occipit of the patient.